Irek Faizullin inspects the restoration of the Old Tatar Settlement

A walking tour along the Old Tatar Settlement in Kazan was made today by President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov to see the progress of the restoration of historic buildings. He was accompanied by Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin, Minister of Construction, Architecture and Housing of Tatarstan Irek Faizullin and Assistant to the President of Tatarstan Olesya Baltusova.

Rustam Minnikhanov examined three historical buildings in Safyan Street. According to Assistant to the President of Tatarstan Olesya Baltusova, house no.1 is one of the good examples of the restoration - the restorers are doing their best preserve the brickwork of the first floor, and both new and preserved original logs are being used on the second wooden floor.

House no. 3 in Safyan Street, referring to the former Apanayev Estate, needs to be restored, but the issue of ownership is still unresolved. Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin promised the President of Tatarstan to resolve the issue in the near future in order to transfer the building to the investor.

The restoration of the main house of the Apanayev Estate built in the late 18th century and abandoned for a long time, it is now almost complete.

The participants walked down Kayum Nasyri Street and examined a number of restored historic buildings. The President of Tatarstan instructed to consider the issues of the improvement of the street i.e. to construct wide sidewalks for pedestrians, install street lighting, and to restrict the traffic in the street.

The project on recreating Kunche Street, next to Apanaevskaya Mosque, was presented to Rustam Minnikhanov. This short pedestrian street running along the mosque will connect Nasyri and Mardzhani Streets, and it is to be reconstructed in the spirit of the historic Old Tatar Settlement.

The President of Tatarstan drew attention to the poor condition of house number 12 in Nasyri Street. Seven families currently live in the house, therefore it is necessary to resolve the issue and offer them alternative housing before the restoration. The relevant order was given by Rustam Minnikhanov to the Ministry of Forestry of the Republic of Tatarstan responsible for the restoration of the house.

Finally, the President of Tatarstan inspected the restoration of a whole historic quarter between Tatarstan, Nasyri, Mardzhani and Zaini Sultan Streets. Here, the investors both recreate individual buildings and decorate the courtyards of Kushayev, Kazakov, the Sabitov Estates to create the spirit of the Old Tatar Settlement. The buildings will house cafes, restaurants, workshops, where visitors will be able to try their hand at traditional crafts. Most of the restoration work is to be completed by the Universiade.